Shareef Aleem Acquitted! - Monday February 5, 2007

February 6, 2007 on 2:43 am | In Act Now

Almost exactly two years ago, Shareef Aleem attended the public meeting called by the CU Board of Regents to discuss Ward Churchill’s criticisms of U.S. foreign policy.  When the Regents refused to let the students speak, Shareef demanded to know why.  He was arrested and charged with assaulting an officer, a felony for which he faced up to 16 years imprisonment.

In 2006 Shareef’s first trial resulted in a hung jury, and the Adams County prosecutor insisted on re-trying the case.  In the second trial, which began last week, the jury deliberated most of the day Thursday and was sent home over the weekend.  This morning, they returned a verdict of NOT guilty.

The courage and faith of Shareef and his family throughout this ordeal — as well as the support from the community, the CU students and faculty who testified, and the lawyers who worked pro bono — are an inspiration to all who struggle for justice.